Vampire Princess

by Cameron Drake

  I bit my lip.

  “I might have… blown some stuff up.”

  “What?”

  “I was upset. It came out. Kind of like when I use wind. I… exploded some dirt and trees.”

  “Trees?”

  I nodded.

  “Big ones. Out in the woods”

  “Is that all?”

  “Well, maybe some bedrock.”

  He narrowed his eyes.

  “Show me.”

  Chapter 24

  “Go on, I can keep up.”

  I glanced back at the house. Bernard was still inside, but I could feel him. Feel his worry. I frowned, ready to apologize.

  “I should talk to him.”

  “Not now. Take me to the place of the… incident.”

  I nodded and took off at a run. I was faster than usual. I actually had to slow down so Caleb could keep up. I stopped, looking for him. He was by my side a moment later.

  “When did you get this fast?”

  “I don’t know. I think it might be from the fresh blood?”

  He nodded.

  “That must be it. Alright, let’s go. But not quite so… rapidly.”

  I loped through the forest, sure to keep him in close range this time. I saw the clearing up ahead and froze. There was light.

  “Why did you stop?”

  “Look.”

  We crept forward, afraid we would find humans investigating. Instead we stepped into a grove of saplings. We stared around us in wonder.

  Even Caleb looked awestruck.

  I’d done more than blow up some trees. Something else had happened. Something… strange.

  I knew there were magical objects in this world, but I never knew there were magical plants.

  The traces of the explosion were still there, but it was far from barren. The woods were thick with lush growth. New trees had grown in place of the destruction, tall and strong and slim. Practically overnight.

  But they were not just ordinary saplings.

  They were pure white.

  And they were lit up from within.

  “Nightfall…”

  I stared at the trees. They were incredibly beautiful. My wonder turned into alarm as I turned in a circle. The glow was too bright. The grove was sure to attract attention.

  Had I done this?

  And if so, how?

  “What do you see, Princess?”

  “The trees are white.”

  He shook his head.

  “No. They are not just trees.” He looked at me. “They are spirit trees. And they are dangerous.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, that if I am right, this may be the only force on Earth that can kill you.”

  I gasped, stepping away.

  “The trees?”

  “I’ve suspected for a long time that an ordinary blade or even wood would not be sufficient. I think that there must be magic here. You must have triggered it. Or…”

  “Or what?”

  “Or you are the magic.” He looked thoughtful for a moment. “Maybe your mother was more than she seemed.”

  “More?”

  “More than human. I’ve never heard of a Vampire able to make things live and grow.” His mouth twisted into a wry semblance of a smile. “We tend to go in the other direction.”

  I covered my mouth, staring at the grove.

  “What have I done, Caleb?”

  “Look at me.” I turned to face him. His face was serious, but there was a sadness in his eyes. “It’s not your fault, Highness. None of it is.”

  “But won’t this… what if someone finds it?”

  “They won’t find it.” He jerked his head over his shoulder. “Go on now. Let me finish this.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I have to burn it.”

  I shook my head. It seemed wrong to destroy something so lovely. I leaned against a tree, pressing my hand against it.

  “Princess…”

  “What?”

  “Look at your hand.”

  I turned and saw. Saw what I had done. My hand was glowing where it touched the tree. It was similar to what had happened when the beams of light had appeared. But it was a calmer light. Softer. More… green.

  I lifted it away and my handprint remained.

  I’d… done something to the tree.

  “We can’t just destroy this.” I looked around. “I can feel them. They are alive, Caleb.”

  “We have to.” He nodded firmly when I started to argue. “I have to.”

  I closed my eyes, an unbearable sadness overwhelming me. I nodded. We had no choice. The grove might be exquisitely beautiful, but someone would find it.

  Humans or Vampires.

  Either way, it would lead them right to me.

  It would put everything at risk. The future of the Kingdom. Our lives. My father.

  “I’m sorry…”

  I whispered to the trees, and I could have sworn I felt them answer. It was a musical tinkling sound in my mind. A soft breeze brushed against my skin. Whatever magic this was, it didn’t want to hurt me.

  Even if it was the only thing that could.

  I bowed my head and walked away.

  Chapter 25

  Bernard was cleaning the house like a deranged housewife. He put his back into it, sweeping and mopping everything in sight. I sat there numbly, trying not to imagine the destruction taking place in the forest right now.

  I hated that it had come to this. I didn’t want to destroy anything, except maybe my enemies. I stared into space until he bumped the broom against my feet the third time. Then I stood and firmly took it from him.

  He shrugged and went into the kitchen, coming back with a spray bottle of white vinegar and a dust rag.

  We cleaned in absolute silence until we smelled it. The smoke from the blaze had reached the house. We exchanged a glance.

  I’d told him briefly what had happened.

  Apparently, I could make things grow. Not just things. Special things.

  Things that were pretty much a supernatural beacon to anyone trying to find us.

  Basically, I was a freak. But one with a green thumb. Or a sparkly, magical thumb. I looked at my hand and exhaled. It looked normal.

  I started sweeping faster.

  “Uh, Sash—”

  “Huh?”

  “The broom is starting to smoke.”

  I stared down. He was right. I’d brushed so fast and so hard that the straw had started to singe.

  “Sorry.”

  I handed the broom to Bernard and ran upstairs, fighting back tears. I needed a shower to wipe away the scent of smoke and diesel.

  I was almost too tired to cry about the mess I’d made of everything. Dylan. The beautiful trees. Maxim. My unchecked ability to float into the sky like a freaking hot air balloon.

  I wasn’t just tired.

  I was bone tired.

  This had been the longest night of my life, and it wasn’t even over. I knew Caleb would want to talk about what to do. Bernard would want to discuss all of this too…

  I stripped and climbed into the hot shower. I sighed at the feeling of the water on my skin. Everything was pronounced. All my senses still heightened from the feeding. I could feel every droplet of water. Even the steam against my face felt good.

  The blood… it had to be from the blood.

  What had it done to me?

  I was out of control. A monster. And I had put us all at risk.

  I stayed in there as long as I could, but stopped long before the water started to cool. I knew Caleb might want to wash the smoke off.

  I dried off with a fluffy towel and slid into a nightshirt. I crawled into bed, ignoring the sound of my phone vibrating with unseen messages. For the first time in my life I was asleep before my head hit the pillow. I went deep, not drifting halfway awake like I usually did.

  I did not wake when Caleb came home. Or when he stood in my doorway, watching me sleep.


  But it was not an easy or restful sleep.

  The dreams came back.

  Chapter 26

  The teacher was droning on about the Revolutionary War as I rubbed my eyes, trying to dispel the sense of doom washing over me. And the memory of the dreams.

  Last night, they had been worse than usual. Last night, I hadn’t been alone. There had been someone else in my dream with me.

  A man, not much older than Maxim. But I knew that it was just his surface appearance.

  Behind the dull gray of his eyes, there was someone very old.

  The bell rang and I trudged sleepily into the hallway, heading for my locker. I bumped into someone and the sickeningly sweet smell of bubble gum and artificial cherries wafted over me.

  Janelle.

  Perfect.

  She jumped away and hissed.

  “Stay away from me you freak!”

  I stepped closer. She backed away until she was against the lockers. I waited until no one was near, then I smiled.

  “Or what Janelle? I know what you did.”

  Her eyes widened. She couldn’t hide the truth from me. I could feel the fear coming off her in waves. I nodded.

  She should be afraid.

  “If you ever try and hurt someone again, I will end you.”

  I didn’t bother to glamour her. I wanted her fully aware of what I was saying.

  “Are you threatening me? Because I will go to the police—”

  “And tell them what? You tried to kill me with a metal spike and it didn’t work?” I smiled sweetly. “You’ll end up in a looney bin. Actually, that’s not a bad idea.”

  I tilted my head to the side, considering her.

  “You have been acting weird lately. Seeing things that aren’t there. Full of… wild theories…”

  I smiled, fully aware that my fangs were out. I was so tempted to bite her that I could barely control myself. My throat was burning with thirst again.

  Crap.

  You are an idiot, Sash. Just glamour her into being less of a bitch and move on.

  I knew the smart thing to do was to get out of here. Fast. But not until I was done scaring the crap out of Janelle.

  I snapped my teeth back into place and smiled sweetly. Then I glamoured her. But not to forget. Just a little insurance policy.

  “If you ever try to tell anyone about this, you will speak gibberish. No one will understand you.” My smile widened. “Oh, and you’ve recently developed a tendency to drool… especially when you get the urge to be a bitch to someone.”

  Her pupils widened and then returned to normal. I smiled and stepped back. My work here was done.

  I saw her covering her mouth as she ran away. I should feel bad, but I didn’t. It wasn’t just me she’d attempted to terrorize. She was an insecure bully who picked on Freshman and Sophomore girls and kissed the butts of the Seniors and the guys on the football team.

  In a twisted way, I’d actually done my good deed for the day.

  I was whistling as I headed outside. I pulled out my phone and group texted Bernard and Caleb.

  I’m coming home early.

  And then I ran.

  Chapter 27

  “Hey.”

  “Hey.”

  I bit my lip, swaying slightly on the swing. I’d agreed to meet Dylan tonight at the old elementary school playground. Kids came here to drink sometimes, or just hang out.

  But this was more serious. Tonight, he wanted to talk.

  T-A-L-K.

  I sighed, knowing this was going to be tough.

  He was my first boyfriend. He was human and I was not. This thing between us was real, but it was still new. And he had been threatened by Maxim.

  If I was honest with myself… maybe he should be.

  Maxim was like me. He could teach me things. I trusted him. And, more than that, I liked him.

  More than I’d initially thought.

  Because my first impression had been that he was a massive pain in the ass.

  Dylan cleared his throat. I pushed off slightly with my toe, swinging backwards. I was nervous about this.

  Me.

  The future Queen of Darkness.

  “So, I didn’t hear from you all weekend.”

  I nodded.

  “Things were a little rough at home.”

  “Everything okay?”

  “Kind of? I’m not sure. It’s just family stuff.”

  He stared at me.

  “Your cousin was there?”

  “No, he left after he dropped me off.”

  That was true, I reminded myself. So why did I feel so guilty?

  Um, because he makes you feel giddy inside, dumbass.

  They both did. And they shouldn’t.

  That was one boy too many.

  But, I reminded myself, Maxim was not a boy.

  “He left in the middle of the night?”

  “Yes.” I didn’t need to tell Dylan that Maxim’s day started at sun down. Or that he mostly lived in hotels. I frowned. He most likely spent time in the apartments and houses of women he’d glamoured too.

  For some reason, I didn’t like that.

  “He didn’t act like your cousin.”

  I sighed.

  “I know.” I shrugged. “We didn’t grow up together. But it’s nothing.”

  It definitely was not nothing, but I was going to make sure that it didn’t go any further than it already had. So that was going to have to be good enough for Dylan.

  I hoped he would drop it, but he didn’t.

  “How old is he?”

  I inhaled sharply. That wasn’t exactly an easy question to answer. Two hundred years? Three? But he had been in his early twenties when he was turned.

  “Twenty-two or twenty-three. I think.”

  “He’s too old for you.”

  “Yeah, he is. And I’m with you. So, it doesn’t matter.”

  He crossed his thick arms and watched me push off and start swinging. I let myself lean back, swooping through the air in a clean, smooth arc.

  “I guess you can’t help it if he’s interested in you.”

  “Nope.”

  “But you aren’t seeing him.”

  “That’s right.”

  He caught the swing and grinned at me.

  “Brat.”

  He lifted me out of the seat and into his arms. My feet dangled a bit, but he supported me easily. His hands slid over my back and I sighed in pleasure.

  “You’re all mine.”

  “Hmm…”

  I made a sound that was part agreement, part consideration. I was being coy. But I couldn’t help it.

  Something about him made me want to tease him.

  Dylan let out a growl and kissed me. I tilted my head back, opening my mouth to his tongue. He was a damn good kisser. And it was driving me crazy.

  For a split second, I caught myself wondering if Maxim was as good…

  “Ouch!”

  I twisted away, cursing under my breath. I had almost cut him. I’d been so close I could practically taste his blood.

  My fangs were out. Dylan had turned me on and that made me want his blood.

  Basically, I wanted to drink my boyfriend like a freaking juice box.

  “What’s going on, Soph?”

  I couldn’t look at him. Had he felt my teeth? Or did he just think I was a freak who liked to bite?

  I shook my head.

  “I have to get home.”

  I heard him sigh. I could practically see his exasperation as he ran his hands through his hair.

  “It’s late. Let me take you.”

  “No.”

  “Sophie, I swear to God—”

  I laughed. I couldn’t help it. Our kind didn’t believe in God. In fact, we considered our existence the final proof that he, or she, did not exist.

  Unless there was an all-powerful sadist in the sky. Some twisted all-knowing, all-powerful being with a sick sense of humor.

  In which case, it was entirely pos
sible.

  “What is so funny? You’re acting weird. There’s a guy who looks like a fucking rock star hanging around you. And you won’t tell me where you live.”

  He didn’t mention the fangs. Everything else I could explain. I breathed a sigh of relief.

  “My uncles— they don’t know about you.”

  “Why not?”

  “I’ve never dated before.”

  “But they are okay with your creepy cousin being all over you? That doesn’t make sense, Soph.”

  “There are… reasons that they hoped… they thought he would be good for me.”

  Crap. I was getting too close to the truth.

  Learn to lie better, Sasha!

  “Let me get this straight. Your uncles wanted to set their teenage niece up with your cousin, who is six or seven years older?”

  “It’s not like that! Nothing is going on. I think my guardian just hoped that someday, when I was older… anyway, it doesn’t matter. I told you!”

  He paced over to a tree and punched it. I followed him, placing my hand on his back. I could face him now that my fangs had finally receded.

  His pain washed over me. I wanted to make him feel better. I hated that I had done this to him.

  “Don’t touch me Sophie. I’m not myself right now.”

  I stood there, fighting back tears as he turned to stare at me.

  “What is going on, Sophie? You are always running away from me. Nothing you tell me makes any sense. And don’t take this the wrong way, but I think you need to see a dentist.”

  I stared at him. Was he joking? He’d felt my fangs and what? He’d rationalized them into a bad case of snaggle tooth?

  “Don’t be rude!”

  I turned away, determined to leave.

  “Wait!”

  He caught my arm.

  “It’s not safe for you to be alone at night.” He ran his hand through his hair, staring at me earnestly. “And there was a huge fire in the woods near where we dropped you off. It’s all suspicious, Soph. Who knows what is out there?”

  I bit my lip. I was going to have to break up with him. That, or bring him home to meet the folks.

  I pulled out my phone and texted Bernard.

  There’s someone I want you to meet.

  When?